May
20
Foods
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If you have a fish or shellfish allergy, you definitely need to avoid the foods that contain these items. A shellfish allergy is not to be trifled with. An allergic reaction can be severe such as hives, disorientation, breathing difficulties and shock.
Some of the foods you should avoid include any kind of fish, caviar, Roe (which are fish eggs), imitation seafood such as sushi, Caesar salad, Worcestershire sauce, and any kind of seafood dish. In fact, consider avoiding seafood restaurants altogether for fear of cross-contamination during the preparation and cooking process. Utensils such as a spatula, cooking oil or the heating surfaces may have been used to cook fish or shellfish earlier on, leaving traces on the food that you ordered.
Most individuals have a cross-reactivity to both fish and shellfish; in other words if they are allergic to one; they are allergic to the other.
Funnily, some sufferers of shellfish allergy do not display reactions after eating mollusks, which are clams, scallops, oysters and mussels.
Separate allergy testing is done for shellfish using the shellfish mix skin prick test and fish using the fish mix skin prick test. The fish mix skin prick test tests for cod, tuna, mackerel and salmon while the shellfish mix skin prick test tests for a combination of shellfish.
Sometimes an imitation is used for crab or shrimp that does not contain shellfish but may contain fish. Such an imitation is Surimi, which is a processed Alaskan pollack. It is best avoided. Surimi usually is made from white fish, but can contain shellfish extract. Surimi may be in certain processed foods such as some pizza toppings.
Common shellfish and fish dishes to refrain from consuming include paella, bouillabaisse, gumbo, frito misto, fruits de mer, and oriental foods. Their recipes usually contain chopped pieces of fish that can be difficult to identify mixed in with other foods. Caesar salad dressings usually contain anchovies. Also be careful of other types of dressings and readily prepared bottled sauces.
It is also best to avoid food products that include iodine. You can find iodine in seaweed, cleaning products, and also X-ray dyes.
Your healthcare provider or allergist should be able to provide you with a list of all foods to avoid. Ask to receive any updated lists as there are always new products being created or new processed ingredient names that you should be told about so that you can avoid those that contain fish or shellfish.
Be aware of spices, and flavorings when preparing foods as some can contain fish or fish parts or shellfish.
Fortunately, the Food Allergy Labeling Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), which was passed in 2004, requires all labels to be capable of being read by a seven year old. This makes it very easy for sufferers to determine if food contains fish, shellfish or other food allergens, making it easier for self protection.
Feb
19
MSG
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Suspect that you have MSG allergysymptoms? I first made the connection some years ago about my allergy to MSG. I had just eaten a plate of wanton noodles, which I bought from a hawker stall in a food court in Marina Square Shopping Center, during lunch break some years ago.
Within minutes after my meal, after getting off from the table, I experienced MSG allergy symptoms which include a burning sensation all over my body. I felt a chill run down my spine and the hairs on my arms were standing. I was in a flush and perspiring, and thought that I was about to faint.
I had to grab a seat as I was unable to stand. I immediately realized that it had to do with the noodles that I just ate. Since there were nothing else that I appeared to be allergic to,
I concluded that the peppery soup that came with the soup might have contained MSG. Luckily for me, the reactions did not escalate to something more serious.
After the incident, I became more aware about my MSG allergy symptoms. I now seek to avoid any foods that potentially contain MSG. I very much prefer to eat in (home) than out.
At home, I choose not to add any MSG into my cooking. My husband sometimes complains that the food cooked at home is bland. I choose to disagree. His taste buds are already accustomed to strong flavors and MSG for many years already with outside cooking. I try to use natural food ingredients such as herbs for the added flavor. I intend that my kids be brought up on healthy food, knowing how bad MSG can be for the body.
MSG is also known as monosodium glutamate. An MSG sensitivity is very common, although many people are not aware of it. An allergic reaction can be attributed to other foods combined with MSG, or a reaction to MSG itself.
Because MSG is a common ingredient for many Chinese foods, reactions are sometimes referred to as Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. Of course, not all Chinese food contains MSG and this substance can be found in other types of food as well.
MSG can cause a reaction in nerve cells. The use of this stimulant affects the mouth and the brain. Hence, you will find that when you consume MSG, your sense of taste and smell are stimulated. The down side to this stimulation is that it can also cause MSG allergy symptoms due to over stimulation of the nerve cells.
More severe MSG allergy symptoms include numbness or pressure in the face, chest pain or palpitations, nausea, vomiting, head pain, flushing and sweating, and/or wheezing. Symptoms can be worse if the foods high in MSG are consumed on an empty stomach and in high doses.
MSG allergy symptoms tend to show up within one half hour to one hour after eating food containing MSG, and symptoms usually dissipate within two or three hours. If reactions are severe, an emergency medical treatment is required.
Because of what MSG can do, I prefer that my entire family avoids it as much as possible. Manufacturers of food products tend to disguise MSG with the use of a variety of terms in its product labeling, for commercial viability. Look out for words like “flavor enhancer”, “hydrolyzed vegetable proteins”, “autolyzed yeast”, “yeast extract”, “soy extract”, to name a few. They may contain MSG.
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